Trust & Safety

Scam Prevention Center

Stay informed. Avoid scams. Report quickly.

Stay informed. Avoid scams. Keep work, messages, and payments on HireLocal — and report suspicious activity quickly.

If you are in immediate danger, call 911 or your local emergency number first. HireLocal cannot provide emergency response.

01. Common Scams

Fake providers

Warning signs: pressure to hire immediately, no verification badges, recycled photos.
Prevention: only hire verified providers and keep contracts on HireLocal.

Off-platform payment requests

Warning signs: asks for Cash App, Venmo, Zelle, wire, or gift cards.
Prevention: always fund work through HireLocal escrow.

Fake deposits / upfront fees

Warning signs: requests a deposit outside the contract or an “equipment fee”.
Prevention: refuse off-platform deposits and report the account.

Impersonation

Warning signs: someone claiming to be HireLocal support in chat or email.
Prevention: HireLocal will never ask for your password or MFA codes.

Fake job listings

Warning signs: jobs that ask you to pay to apply or share sensitive IDs early.
Prevention: apply only to listings that use platform messaging and contracts.

02. Red Flags to Watch For

Stop and report if you see any of the following:

Pressure to move payments off HireLocal (Cash App, Venmo, Zelle, wire)
Requests for deposits or “equipment fees” outside a funded contract
Someone claiming to be HireLocal support asking for passwords or codes
Job posts that require payment to apply or share SSN early
Providers with no verification badges and recycled portfolio photos
Urgent “act now” deadlines designed to skip review of reviews and badges
Requests to continue the conversation on WhatsApp or SMS only
Overpayment offers that ask you to refund the difference elsewhere

03. Payment Safety

Always keep payments inside HireLocal. Escrow and Stripe protect both sides. Off-platform payments are not covered by HireLocal refund or dispute protections.

Never use Cash App, Venmo, or Zelle outside the platform
Never send deposits off-platform
Avoid direct wire transfers for HireLocal jobs
Confirm refund eligibility only through platform disputes

04. Safe Communication

Keep conversations on HireLocal.

Do not share banking passwords, Social Security numbers, or one-time codes
Document agreements in contracts and messages
Watch for phrases like “pay outside the app,” “refund the difference,” or “verify with a code we send you”

05. Trusted Provider Badges

Identity Verified

Government ID checked so you know who you are working with.

Background Checked

Optional screening that adds another trust signal for providers.

Verified Business

Business details reviewed for company accounts on the platform.

Licensed & Insured

When shown, the provider has shared license or insurance credentials.

06. Safety Habits

Before hiring

Check verification badges, reviews, and keep the job on HireLocal.

During communication

Stay in platform messaging. Never share passwords, SSN, or OTP codes.

During payment

Fund work through escrow only. Decline Cash App, Venmo, or Zelle requests.

During contracts

Document scope and changes in the contract and message thread.

After completion

Confirm completion on-platform, then leave an honest review.

07. If You Believe You Were Targeted

Act quickly:

Stop communication with the other party
Do not send more money or share more personal information
Secure your HireLocal account (change password, review sessions)
Report the user, listing, or scam in the HireLocal app
Contact your bank or card issuer if money already left the platform
Contact law enforcement where appropriate

08. Contact

Questions about scams or safety may be directed to:

HireLocal USA

4601 E. Douglas Ave., Suite 367

Wichita, KS 67218

Support@HireLocalUSA.com

If It Feels Off, Report It.

HireLocal will never ask for your password or one-time codes. Keep payments in escrow and report suspicious activity.